A new Tube map will help commuters to swap their cramped underground journey for a healthy stroll by saying how long it takes to walk between stations.

According to Transport for London's Walking Tube map, it should take 15 minutes to walk from Oxford Circus to Regent's Park and just 11 minutes from Victoria to St James's Park.

But the map also reveals some bigger gaps in the transport network, with a 26-minute haul between Farringdon and King's Cross St Pancras, and 29 minutes between Finsbury Park and Highbury & Islington.

The initiative is part of TfL's Transport Health Action Plan. Only a quarter of adults in London get their recommended levels of daily physical activity but they could achieve it simply by walking or cycling instead of using public transport.

The map, which covers zones one and two, is only available online but TfL hinted that paper versions may be available in the future.

A spokeswoman for TfL said: "We are really keen to get people to walk more.

"The idea is to highlight how quick it is to walk between the stations and then there are maps inside the Tube stations themselves detailing the exact route you need to take.

"We have just finished making sure there is one of these maps in every single station."

She said the timings on the Walking Map were taken from TfL's Journey Planner and are "slightly on the generous side" to account for most walking speeds.

Gordon Innes, chief executive officer of the Mayor's official London promotional company London & Partners, said: "The new Walking Tube map is a great new resource for visitors to London.

"Walking from the buzz of Leicester Square to the markets of Covent Garden takes just four minutes, but many tourists make the longer journey by Tube.

"Visitors and Londoners alike can now use the new Walking Tube map to navigate our fantastic city above ground, while taking in its iconic sights."